Position Key

• PG – Point Guard
• SG – Shooting Guard
• SF – Small Forward
• PF – Power Forward
• C – Center

Scottie Pippen
SF/PG

Chicago Bulls
(1987-1998/2003-2004)

Houston Rockets  
(1998-1999)

Portland Trail Blazers
(1999-2003) 

The ultimate wing-man to play alongside Michael Jordan, there were many arguments being made during Jordan’s era that Scottie Pippen was actually the second best player in the entire league, not just on his own team which was confirmed during MJ’s first retirement and later during his days in Portland where Scottie lead a young and hungry Blazers squad as the wise sage to within 1 game of reaching the NBA Finals. With his long arms and quick strides, “Pip” was as cunning and efficient a perimeter defender that I’ve ever seen in the NBA while also being a super versatile “point-forward” on offense who could call plays, get assists, hit outside shots and dunk with ‘tudey authority! Certainly had he been the lone superstar on his own team during his prime, Scottie Pippen would have been an MVP candidate but I do think that being the second best player on a team that won 6 championships is a real nice consolation. No matter what, as a Lakers fan the image of Scottie furiously slamming Portland’s towel cart on the way to the locker room after an amazing game 3 buzzer beater by Ron Harper during the 1999-2000 Western Conference Finals will forever be burned into my memory as one of the best sports moments of all time which I’m sure isn’t one of his favorites but it is what it is.

Larry Bird
SF/PF

Boston Celtics
(1979-1992) 

Even though he dons the colors of my most hated rival, the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird is absolutely one of my favorite players of all time with his slick jump shot and cool demeanor. His battles against Magic and the Lakers in the 80’s were the stuff of legends and it catapulted the NBA out of a ratings valley that was dooming the league to failure at the time which is beyond hard to imagine today. Passing the ball as if he had eyes in the back of his head, “Larry Legend” was as crafty a player that you’ll ever come across and a deadly assassin in the clutch to boot earning a reputation for buzzer-beating kill shots which he routinely called before-hand to opponents in ‘tudey fashion. Now that’s just wrong! Standing tall among all the great historic Celtics, Larry Bird and his amazingly accurate jumpshot will always be fondly remembered for all of his great achievements and after he dies you can rest assured that his ghost will jog laps on the upper deck of whatever building Boston is occupying just like he did during his old Garden days.

Charles Oakley
PF

Chicago Bulls
(1985-1988/2001-2002)

New York Knicks
(1988-1998)

Toronto Raptors
(1998-2001)

Washington Wizards
(2002-2003)

Houston Rockets
(2003-2004)

Quite frankly the ‘tudiest basketball player in history in my opinion, Charles Oakley was the ultimate enforcer and defender of his team’s superstar starting his career off as the aggro-man for Michael Jordan in Chicago before eventually getting moved and making his mark in New York as Patrick Ewing’s personal goon. Not much for finesse or diplomacy, “Oak” was down to fight anyone at anytime though he was a pretty good rebounder, defender and inside scorer ensuring a minimal loss in the fundamental department while injecting his team with the scariest bruiser in the league. The 1990’s Knicks were absolutely one of the toughest teams ever due to their propensity for being a hard-fouling and scrappy squad and Charles Oakley contributed more to this effort than anyone else during their run setting the proverbial tone for his squad like a rhythm section in a band. It’s kind of interesting that players like Oakley have become somewhat obsolete in the “analytics era” since he’s not a great outside shooter but I would take this guy on my team any day for his sheriff like ability to command respect from any player at any time.

Michael Jordan
SG/SF

Chicago Bulls
(1984-1993/1995-1998)

Washington Wizards (2001-2003) 

Michael Jordan is the MAN! If you haven’t heard of this dude before then where the HELL have you been? “Air Jordan” could fly higher than anybody it seemed and his legend only grew as he conquered foe after foe during his amazing career sticking his tongue out in ‘tudey defiance as he ripped out the hearts of every opponent he ever faced! While many people will remember his scoring prowess and high-flying dunks, it was truly his great perimeter defensive ability that showcased his unequaled drive to be the greatest and pushed his teammates to previously unachievable heights which was more than a treat for us viewers lucky enough to partake in his greatness. Constantly at his best during high-pressure moments, MJ thrived in the clutch and always seemed to be involved in a game winning play for his team whether hitting the last-second shot or assisting to a wide-open teammate which is showcased perfectly by his unblemished 6-0 NBA Finals record. With a storybook career rising through the “hard foul” era to dominate the league HIS way, Jordan cast a looming shadow over the NBA that will never be forgotten and his very image is as synonymous with the game of basketball as any player in history.

Bill Laimbeer 
C

Cleveland Cavaliers
(1980-1982)

Detroit Pistons
(1982-1994) 

One of the savviest and most ruthless players to ever lace em’ up, Bill Laimbeer utilized brute tact to explosive effect as the head-of-the-snake for the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons during the 1980’s & 90’s equalizing opposing stars with greater athleticism through intimidation, physicality and ‘tude. Though he’s certainly more known for the gritty stuff, “Bad Boy Bill” was also an accurate shooter helping to revolutionize a new era of inside-out bigs with his impressive 3 pt. range and free throw accuracy contained within a 6′ 11″ 244 lbs. frame. His size also led to superior rebounding numbers which coupled with his sniping ability helped guide him to 4 All-Star appearances and 2 NBA championships highlighting a unique skill-set that saw him routinely among the top-tier at his position during his career. Regardless of his game though, the reason ole’ Laimbeer finds his way on my list was his ice-cold alpha-dog strategic approach to basketball which rattled opponents and rallied teammates with tremendous results showing off capably just how important the mental battle still was despite the spike in superstar athletes within the NBA during his time which I always admired. Had he ever been a Laker or not responsible for spawning my least favorite video game ever then I’d have no doubts he’d be higher on this list as I’m a huge fan of his aloof personality, comedic disposition and genius intellect but alas he’ll have to settle for his spot as the official 6th man of my favorites collection, riding the pine admirably for the 5 starters ahead of him – a microscopic vengeance for the pain that Combat Basketball has caused me over the years! 

Magic Johnson
PG/PF

Los Angeles Lakers
(1979-1991/1995-1996) 

The very first NBA player that I ever knew about, Earvin “Magic” Johnson sounded like the name of some mystical spell-casting wizard to my young impressionable self before I even knew what basketball was. Then, when I first saw him play he totally lived up to it with his Harlem Globetrotter-like ball-handling skills and other-worldly passing ability. That smile too man, you would truly need to question your own humanity if you didn’t feel some semblance of happiness from this supremely infectious man every time you see it. Though the Lakers franchise had tasted success before his arrival, there could be no denying the prestige and glitz that befell upon it during the “Showtime” run in the 80’s which polished the purple and gold to its brightest shine yet still enjoyed today. His great heart and passion for the game (and Lakers) combined with a ‘tude-like flair for highlight-reel plays is what helped me become a basketball fan as a child and I still love the dude today no matter where I spot him! In the hallowed halls of the Laker pantheon, Magic stands at the top and perfectly represents the franchise with his penchant for delivering both high-class entertainment and championships.

Anthony Davis
PF/C

New Orleans Pelicans
(2012-2019)

Los Angeles Lakers
(2019-) 

Talk about unique, Anthony Davis rocks a freaking unibrow and does so proudly – INSTANT ‘tude spike! A perfect representation of the new evolution NBA player, “The Brow” brings a scary versatility and style to the game that I haven’t seen before and has become one of my favorite modern day guys to watch. With the above-average ball handling & passing skills of a point guard, the mid-range & outside sniping of a shooting guard, the slashing & perimeter defense of a small forward, the rebounding & post-ability of a power forward and the shot blocking & size of a center, Anthony Davis virtually has no weaknesses and keeps on getting better with each season he plays. Without a doubt, greatness is on the horizon for AD with a silky-smooth offensive game combined with a ferocious defensive acumen making him perhaps the most interchangeable asset ever seen on a basketball court. Now… if we can just get him to L.A., the love connection can become complete though I’ll still be a fan of his no matter how his career shakes out! *update* After numerous rumors that drove me to near insanity… Anthony Davis has finally been traded to the Lakers and I couldn’t possibly be more excited!!! As a result, he could be trending even further up this list depending on the outcome here in the next few years as well as…

LeBron James
SF/PF/PG

Cleveland Cavaliers
(2003-2010/2014-2018)

Miami Heat
(2010-2014)

Los Angeles Lakers
(2018-) 

I have to admit, I’m actually quite shocked that LeBron has made it this far up my list considering I wasn’t a big fan during his early years. A large part of it is certainly Laker bias as I’m completely stoked that King James decided to sign with us (giving me similar feelings to when Shaq chose the Lakers in free agency back in the day) but he had already taken the steps to showing me a different side of him during his later years in Miami as if he had understood that he didn’t have to always be a spectacle and just go out and ball. Whether or not you can get on board the “witness” or “chosen one” stuff that permeated his early career, LeBron more than lived up to the mountain of hype that was thrust upon his teenage shoulders and has blazed a unique trail in the NBA that is both befitting for a guy nicknamed “The King” and radically ‘tudey! His game has always been extremely fun to watch with his unstoppable drive to the basket, point-guard passing ability and jaw dropping come-from-behind blocks. One thing’s for sure, LeBron James doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks he should do in his career and at the end of the day, I admire him for that. I’m sure if all things were perfect he would have loved to play the entire time for his hometown Cavaliers – the team that originally drafted him but it’s not his fault that the owner is stagnant and the franchise struggles to stay competitive (making it even more impressive to me that he was able to deliver them a title) so I don’t begrudge him taking his destiny into his own hands during his finite time in the NBA. Now as a Lakers fan, all I can say is THANK YOU Mr. James for aligning your destiny with ours (and helping to pull us out of our WORST losing epidemic ever) for what should be a very fun next few years.

Kobe Bryant
SG/SF

Los Angeles Lakers
(1996-2016) 

With the killer instinct of a great white shark and one of the prettiest fadeaways in NBA history, Kobe Bryant became the first ever post-MJ player to actually live up to the “next Michael Jordan” label that had been placed on him and so many others. Carving his own path in the game of basketball like a river cutting through stone, “The Black Mamba” was the most relentlessly hard-working NBA superstar I ever had the privilege of observing and will forever have my utmost respect for all of his ‘tudiness as a player and a man. Teaming with Shaq for those glory days in the early 2000’s still ranks as my favorite era of Lakers basketball but his later run with Gasol and the boys were a super fun ride as well. Plus, he got to beat the Boston Celtics in the Finals …easily a top 5 personal fandom moment for me! I can’t thank you enough for all of the clutch plays and winning attitude that your career has brought me and all of Laker nation and I will ALWAYS be a Kobe Bryant guy! R.I.P. Kobe Bryant (1-26-20) – taken from us WAY too soon but NEVER forgotten.

Shaquille O’Neal
C

Orlando Magic
(1992-1996)

Los Angeles Lakers
(1996-2004)

Miami Heat
(2004-2008)

Phoenix Suns
(2008-2009)

Cleveland Cavaliers
(2009-2010)

Boston Celtics
(2010-2011) 

SHAQ ATTACK!!! Without question my personal favorite player in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal left his MASSIVE size-23 footprints all over the world serving as both an awe-inspiring spectacle of dominance and a jolly proprietor of fun entertainment for fans of all ages. Basically looking like Goliath in a sea of Davids, “Shaq” changed the game forever with his superhero strength (the dude was pulling down entire backboards before they got re-enforced), massive size and surprising athleticism all combined with an unparalleled ‘tudey charisma that constantly put a smile on my face. Starting his career off with the upstart Orlando Magic (a brand-new team conceived in 1989), O’Neal was an instant injection of superstar legitimacy as he immediately made the unknown franchise a true contender pulling them out of their unknown status with the force of a black hole’s gravity by helping lead the plucky team all the way to the NBA Finals in just his third season (1994-1995) albeit in a losing effort. Combining insane on-court talents with a marketability built to print money, “Shaq Diesel” was EVERYWHERE in the 90’s rivaling even the stalwart Michael Jordan in popularity as he crossed-over the world of entertainment several times releasing hilariously-bad rap albums , movies and of course… video games (at least Laimbeer’s not the only one) putting him front-and-center in any household’s cone of attention (especially mine). Later, his career would be defined by much more than his marquee value as his gluttonous pursuit of championships attested to his overall drive to be the “deadliest predator in the jungle” showcasing a grandiose and complex personality that was somehow even larger than his titanic frame. As a Lakers fan, I’ll never forget the day I came home and turned on SportsCenter to the greatest sports-related news of my young life – NBA free agent Shaquille O’Neal signs a 7-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. AHHHHHHHH!!! What proceeded afterwards still ranks as my golden-age years of fanhood inciting both hope and satisfaction simultaneously as a young ‘Tude Dude immediately couldn’t wait to play as many video games with Shaq on the Lakers as he could while also partaking in as many live NBA broadcasts as possible culminating in my favorite EVER individual sports regular season that I’ve experienced to date – the 1999-2000 NBA season (the Lakers first championship since 1988 and also the first of 3 in a row)! It’s truly thanks to these memories that I feel a broader connection with the franchise I’ve always loved so much as Shaq and Kobe represented “my generation” of Lakers, inspiring me to garner everything about the team’s past while at the same time celebrate the present with a fervent and seemingly inherited pride while I was in my youth! To this day, I still gush to anyone who will listen about my photographic recollection of this absolutely perfect recipe of appropriate superstar athlete mixed with the ultimate star cluster franchise resulting in the most delicious sports dish I’ve EVER consumed! Thank you Shaq for every single memory (…well except for Shaq Fu) that you have provided over the years, you will ALWAYS be my #1 guy.

Charles Barkley (PF)
Yet another bad retro video game “cover-boy”, “Sir Charles” was one of the most outspoken players of the ‘tude era who brought an extreme powerhouse style that saw him develop into one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history while also being a supremely versatile scorer. 

Vince Carter (SG/SF)

Without question the ‘tudiest slam dunker I’ve ever seen, “Vinsanity” was an absolute skywalker who you couldn’t take your eyes off of at any point during a game evidenced by his ridiculous reel of insane highlight plays.

Luka Doncic (PG/SF)

Quite possibly the shrewdest player ever, Luka Doncic is impossibly good combining all the crafts of every great European stud who’s come before him with the moxie and bravado of a top-tier Western athlete culminating into a “must-see” superstar worthy of the highest order.  

Robert Horry (SF/PF)

A savvy role-player and ice-cold clutch shooter, “Big-Shot Bob” holds the impressive distinction of winning 7 NBA championships with 3 different teams (including 3 in a row with my Los Angeles Lakers).

Dikembe Mutombo (C)

Perhaps the greatest shot blocker in NBA history, “Mt. Mutombo” proved quite the climb for any would-be offenders driving the lane against him while also supplying one of the most charismatic and fun loving attitudes ever seen in the game of basketball. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Ewing, Michael Cooper, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Kevin McHale, Dirk Nowitzki, Larry Johnson, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, David Robinson, Pau Gasol, Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups, John Stockton, Derek Fisher, Hakeem Olajuwon, Spud Webb, Ron Artest/Metta World Peace, Shawn Kemp, Joe Dumars, Dwight Howard, Bruce Bowen, Karl-Anthony Towns, Reggie Miller, Lamar Odom, Donovan Mitchell, Dominique Wilkins, Clifford Robinson, Eddie Jones, Rick Mahorn, Marc Gasol, Chris Webber, Wilt Chamberlain, Shane Battier, Rajon Rondo, Draymond Green, Allen Iverson, Chris Mullin, Ben Wallace, Danny Green, Glen Rice, Julius Erving, Kawhi Leonard, Alex Caruso, Jayson Tatum, Ray Allen, Alonzo Mourning, Rick Fox, Clyde Drexler, Kyle Lowry, Dale Davis, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, PJ Tucker, Mark Price, Elgin Baylor, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dwayne Wade, Rik Smits, Russell Westbrook, Paul Pierce, Stephen Curry, Jerry West, Dennis Rodman, John Starks, Cedric Ceballos, Mugsy Bogues, Carmelo Anthony, Pete Maravich, Klay Thompson, James Worthy, James Harden, Manu Ginobli, Brandon Ingram, George Mikan, Paul George, Bill Walton, Nick Van Exel, Tayshaun Prince, Amar’e Stoudemire, Arvydas Sabonis, Ja Morant, Horace Grant, Avery Bradley, Jason Williams, Kurt Rambis, Elden Campbell, Joel Embiid, Antawn Jamison, Penny Hardaway, Rudy Gobert, Isiah Thomas, Brian Grant, Steve Kerr, Moses Malone, Byron Scott, DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Yao Ming, DeMar DeRozan and “Dirty 30” himself aka “the technical terror” – Rasheed Wallace .